The incident took place at the N12 and Xavier Street in Winchester Hills. (Photo: Yusuf Abramjee/X)
An intelligence-driven police operation in Johannesburg ended in a shootout on Thursday during which one suspected criminal was shot dead and five more arrested.
The incident took place at the N12 and Xavier Street in Winchester Hills after law enforcement officers raided a group believed to be connected to a hijacking and kidnapping.
Capt. Tintswalo Sibeko, police spokesperson, says the victim was kidnapped during a hijacking in Germiston and forced to ride with the suspects.
(Photo: SA Police)
“The operation followed after a white Isuzu bakkie was hijacked in Germiston. The victim was kidnapped during the incident.”
According to Sibeko, officers realized during the interception that more than one vehicle was involved in the crime. The police have identified additional vehicles believed to have been used by the suspects as convoy vehicles.
Two suspects jumped out of the vehicles and tried to flee. They opened fire on policemen after which a shootout broke out. One suspect was fatally wounded during the incident.
The victim was safely rescued from the situation.
An unlicensed firearm with ammunition was recovered during the operation, together with the hijacked Isuzu bakkie.
“The police seized three more vehicles, which are believed to have been used by the group. These include a Mitsubishi SNV, a VW Polo and a Volvo.”
Sibeko says cases of attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, possession of a hijacked vehicle, vehicle hijacking and kidnapping are being investigated.
#sapsGP (SAPS GAUTENG ARREST FIVE SUSPECTS, FATALLY WOUND ONE, RECOVER HIJACKED VEHICLE AND RESCUE KIDNAPPED VICTIM IN WINCHESTER HILLS)
On Thursday, 21 May 2026, members of the Gauteng Tactical Response Team (TRT), in collaboration with Crime Intelligence and other law… pic.twitter.com/ngMLb4n1bC
— SA Police Service ???????? (@SAPoliceService) May 22, 2026